Method and apparatus to determine object striking instrument movement conditions

ABSTRACT

A striking instrument and struck object monitoring system including at least two shutterable camera units which view a field of view each of which cameras receives light patterns from each and every one of a plurality of contrasting areas on the instrument and the object in rapid successive sequence. A computer receives the signals generated by the light patterns as received by each camera unit which computer discriminates between such signals to determine the instrument&#39;s movement and orientation, and the conditions at impact with the object. 
     The striking instrument may be any selected golf club which club is initially scanned by the system to determine it&#39;s proper striking location prior to the club being swung through the field of view.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/979,712, filed Nov. 20, 1992, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus for measuring golf ball flight characteristics are old (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,063,259; 4,375,887, 4,158,853, 4,136,387). Techniques of detecting golf clubhead position and golf ball position shortly after impact using photoelectric means to trigger a flash to permit a photograph to be taken of the clubhead has been disclosed (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,063,259; 4,375,887). Golf ball or golf clubhead movement has been determined by placing reflective areas on a ball along with use of electro-optical sensors (U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,387). The electrooptical sensing of light sources on both the golfer body and his club has also been disclosed (U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,566). In addition, apparatus for monitoring a golfer and the golf club being swung has also been disclosed (U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,566).

No fully satisfactory system for sensing golf club head movement just prior to and at impact has yet been proposed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, the present invention comprises method and apparatus for measuring the speed, direction and orientation of a striking instrument such as golf club head before the point of impact of the instrument against the ball or other object to be struck and from such data computing conditions of instrument movement prior to impact.

It is a feature that the method and apparatus particularly apply to golf equipment and that the present invention provides a golfer with data relating to the variables of his swing useful in improving his swing and in selecting advantageous equipment for his use including types of clubs and balls.

It is also a feature that the system can be used for analyzing movement of other sports striking instruments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1(a)-(i) illustrate various golf clubhead face orientations and clubhead paths at impact;

FIG. 2(a)-(c) illustrate golf iron paths and effect on ball flight;

FIG. 3(a)-(b) illustrate golf wood club head-to-ball engagement positions and resulting spin;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention including two cameras positioned adjacent a golf club head at addressing and a teed golf ball;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional rectilinear field showing an iron golf club head unit passing partially therethrough from measured position A to measured position B to projected impact position C;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the calibration fixture carrying twenty illuminable areas;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an attachment for providing initial golf clubhead information to the system; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the light receiving and sensory grid panel located in each camera.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

There are five (5) conditions of golf clubhead movement which determine the flight of the ball as impacted by the clubhead. They are:

1. "Clubhead speed" which affects ball speed and in turn distance (approximately 21/2 yards of distance is gained for every mph of club speed).

2. "Clubhead path" measured in a horizontal plane which affects the direction the ball will travel.

3. "Clubhead attack angle" measured in a vertical plane which affects the launch angle and the backspin of a golf ball.

4. "Face orientation"

(a) squareness measured with respect to a horizontal line perpendicular to intended line of flight which affects the hook/slice spin on the golf ball.

(b) loft variation which affects the backspin and launch angle.

5. "Location of ball contact" on the face

(a) up and down the face

(b) from heel to toe.

Location of ball contact effects ball flight in that it affects launch angle and spin rate.

FIG. 1(a)-1(i) illustrate various clubhead paths in horizontal planes and face orientations at impact. The clubhead path P is angle A measured in degrees from the intended initial line of flight of the ball L_(i). The face orientation angle is angle B measured between the line of flight L_(i) and clubhead face direction indicated by arrow F.

Turning in particular to FIG. 1(a), club path P is from outside-to-inside at impact producing a negative A angle and the face is closed producing a negative angle B. The result is a pull hook shot.

FIG. 1(b) shows the clubhead path P along line L_(i) and the clubhead closed with a negative angle B which conditions produce a hook;

FIG. 1(c) shows the clubhead path P such that angle A is positive while a closed face creates a negative angle B for a push hook shot;

FIG. 1(d) shows the P and F coinciding at an angle to L_(i) producing a pull shot;

FIG. 1(e) shows a straight flight shot;

FIG. 1(f) shows conditions that produce a push;

FIG. 1(g) whose conditions that result in a pull slice shot;

FIG. 1(h) shows the clubhead path P along the line 1, but with the club face open to produce a slice; and

FIG. 1(i) shows the condition for a push slice. Turning now to FIGS. 2a-c, clubhead iron unit 7 is shown having a level attack angle EL; descending attack angle D; and rising attack angle U producing ball flights of BF.

In FIGS. 3a-3b, wooden club 1 produces backspin BS when striking ball 2 at the center of gravity CG of the clubhead la. Overspin OS is generated when the ball is struck above the CG and the clubface has zero loft angle.

Now referring to the FIGS. 4-8, system 3 includes camera housing unit 4, computer 5, sensor 6 and teed golf ball 8. Camera unit 4 includes housing frame 11 and support feet 12a, 12b engageable with tracks 14, 16 so that the unit 4 can be adjusted relative to teed ball 8. Camera unit 4 further includes two electro-optical spaced-part cameras 18, 19, which cameras have light-receiving apertures 18a, 19a, shutters (not shown) and light sensitive silicon panels 18p, 19p (see FIG. 8). CCD cameras are preferred but TV-type cameras are also useful. The angle between lines A and B on FIG. 4 may be in the range of 10°-30° with 22° being preferable.

Turning to FIG. 5, golf clubhead 7a and attached hosel 7b which together comprise clubhead unit 7 have three (3) reflective spaced-apart round areas or dots 20a-c placed thereon. Round dots 20a-c having diameters of one-tenth (1/10) to one-eighth (1/8) of an inch are preferred but other size and shaped areas can be used. Dots 20a-c are preferably made of reflective material which is adhered to the clubhead 7a and hosel 7b surface. Teed ball 8 has similar dots 25g-l. The "Scotchlite" brand beaded material made by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M) is preferred for forming the dots. Corner-reflective retroflectors may also be used. Alternatively, painted spots can be used that define contrasting areas. The number of dots or areas may be as few as three (3) up to six (6) or more of the clubhead and for the ball provided each dot or area reflects light in club positions A and B and teed ball position.

Camera 18 is capable of receiving light from each and every dot 20a-c and dots 25g-l and camera 19 is likewise capable of receiving light from each and every one of such dots.

Reflective materials as compared with the coated surface of the golf ball and metallic or wooden surfaces of golf clubs are as high as nine hundred (900) times brighter where the divergence angle between the beam of light striking the dots 20a-c and dots 25g-l the beam of light from such dots to the camera aperture is zero or close to zero. As the divergence angle increases, the ratio of brightness of such dots 20a-c and dot 25g-l to the background decreases. It will be appreciated that infra red lighting may be used to make the flash light invisible to the golfer.

Referring back to FIG. 4, adjacent to camera 18 are two flash lamps 21, 22 and adjacent to camera 19 are two additional flash lamps 23, 24. Lamps 21, 22, 23 and 24 are placed as close to the operative of camera 18, 19 as possible to minimize the divergence angle and this increases the ability of cameras 18, 19 to receive light from dots a-c and 25g-l and distinguish that light from light received from other portions of the clubhead unit 7, ball surface 8 and other background light. Alternatively, gating or shuttering can be accomplished by controlling the periods of time in which the light sensitive panels 18p, 19p will receive light and be activated by such light. A camera in which shuttering or gating is accomplished by operation of the sensor panels is a gated charge intensified camera. In this alternative, the light source is always on the camera shutters always open, thus employing the panels 18p, 19p to accomplish gating by gathering light only at a plurality of time periods separated by 800 microseconds. A second alternative utilizes a ferroelectric liquid crystal shutter which opens and closes in 100 microseconds. In this alternative, a constant light source is used and shuttering occurs twice before the ball has been hit.

In the operation of the system, the initial step is calibration of the cameras 18, 19. The cameras 18, 19 are calibrated to a coordinate system fixed in space. To accomplish this calibration, fixture 30 of FIG. 6 is physically located just behind the location where the teed ball 8 will be placed. The fixture includes twenty (20) retro-dots 30a-t of 1/4" in diameter. Fixture 30 defines the global coordinate system by its three dimensional structure. The location of fixture 30 and spacing of cameras 18, 19 from the fixture 30 or each other need not be precise since the fixture 30 locates these when it determines the eleven constants for each camera 18, 19.

Further, calibration of clubhead unit 7 is accomplished by adhering attachment 32 to club face 7f. Vertical orientation line 32v and horizontal line 32h are used to orient and locate attachment 32 on clubhead face 7f having club face grooves 10a, b etc. Line 32h is parallel to a face grooves 10a, b etc. Attachment 32 including the clubhead unit 7 attachment 32 are placed adjacent ball 8. Attachment 32 includes three (3) retro-dots 31a-c; clubhead 7a has retrodots 20b-c; and hosel 7b surface has retrodot 20a, with each reto-dot about 1/4" in diameter. Attachment 32 provides the system with information to locate the geometric center of face 7f which center is the proper location for ball impact. Attachment 32 forms a plane defining an axis system centered at the center of the clubface 7f (FIG. 7). By aligning the upper and lower dots on the such clubcalibration attachment 32 perpendicular to the grooves of club head 7 unit, the vector between these two points defines the x-axis of a local face coordinate system. The vector normal to the plane of the three calibration points defines the Y-axis direction and is parallel to the grooves. The normal to the x and the y axis vector defines the third rectangular direction called the z-axis which is a direction normal to the clubface 7f the system is operated by reflecting light off dot 31a-c to camera panels 18p, 19p.

From solving the unique rotational and translational relationship between the three dots 20a-c on the club head unit 7 and the three (3) dots 31a, b, c, the intended point of impact on the club (the sweet spot) can uniquely be found at any location of the swing in the field through reflective light from the dots 20a-c on the club unit 7. Attachment 32 is then removed from clubs face 7a.

The eleven constants determine the focal length, orientation and position of each camera 18, 19 given the premeasured points on fixture 30 and the twenty U and V coordinates digitized on each camera's sensor panels 18p, 19p.

Sensor panels 18p, 19p which receive successive light pattern contain 240 lines of data and 510 pixels per line. The grid of FIG. 8 is merely illustrative in that it does not have 240 lines. A computer algorithm is used for centroid detection of each dot 25g-l and 20a-c. Centroid detection of a dot is the location of the center area of the dot for greater accuracy and resolution. Each image received from dots 25a-l; 20a-c results in an apparent x and y center position of each dot. Where light is low in the field of vision due to gating, an image intensifier may be used in conjunction with the sensor panels. An image intensifier is a device which produces an output image brighter than the input image.

The X, Y and Z coordinates of the center of each dot 30a-t which are arranged in a three-dimensional pattern were premeasured to accuracy of one of one-ten thousandth of an inch on a digitizing table and stored in the computer. An image of the calibration fixture 30 is taken by the two cameras 18, 19.

This image determines the eleven (11) constants relating image space coordinates U and V to the known twenty X, Y and Z positions on the calibration fixture 30. The equations relating the calibrated X(i), Y(i) Z(i) spaced points with the V_(i).sup.(j) U_(i).sup.(j) image points are: ##EQU1##

The eleven constants, Di1 (i=1,11) for camera 18 and the eleven constants, Di2 (i=1,11) for camera 19 are solved from knowing X(i), Y(i), Z(i) at the 20 locations and the 20 Ui(j), Vi(j) coordinates measured in the calibration photo for the two cameras.

With calibration completed, ball 8 is teed up about 30 inches from cameras 18 and 19, club head unit 7 placed behind ball 8 at address and club head unit 7 (on a shaft not shown) is swung through three-dimensional field of view 35 (FIG. 5). About six inches before the striking of the ball, a laser beam breakage transmits a signal to open the shutter of camera 18 and camera 19 and to expose the image sensor panel in camera 18 and camera 19 to light from the three (3) club unit 7 dots 20a-c and six (6) stationary ball dots 25g-l. This illumination occurs when the club unit 7 is a position A (FIG. 5). Eight (8) hundred microseconds later, flash light 22 and light 23 fires a flash of light which again illuminates the three (3) club unit 7 dots 20a-c and six (6) ball dots 25g-l. This occurs when the club unit 7 is a position B (FIG. 5).

Flashes of light are between one-ten thousandth and a few millionths of a second in duration. Very small apertures are used in cameras 18 and 19 to reduce ambient light and enhance strobe light. As light reflects off dots 20a-c in their two positions, it reaches sensor panels 18p, 19p in corresponding panel areas 25a-l (FIG. 8). Using the known time between camera operation and the known geometric relationships between the cameras, the external computing circuits are able to calculate the X, Y and Z positions of each enhanced dot in a common coordinate system at the time of each snapshot. From the position information and the known data, the external computing circuits are able to calculate the clubhead velocity and spin (or rotation) in three dimensions during the immediate preimpact ball 8 launch time period which pre impact condition is determined by calculation based on data from clubhead positions A and B data and the known position of stationery ball 8 from position B. In addition, the path direction, attack angle, and hit location are calculable from the positional information provided by the three reflective dots 30u, v, y on club unit 7.

As a golfer swings clubhead unit 7 through field 35, the system electronic images are seen through the cameras 18, 19 as shown on panels 18a, 19a in FIG. 8. The right hand field of view of camera 18 will differ slightly from the left hand field of view of camera 19 due to the 20° angle difference in camera orientation. The resulting equations to be solved given the camera coordinates, U_(i).sup.(j), V_(i).sup.(j) for the three club dots, i, and two cameras J are as follows: ##EQU2##

With the known coordinates X(i), Y(i), Z(i) i=1, 3 for the club head unit 7 in position A, computer 5 further analyzes the positions of X(i), Y(i), Z(i), i=1, 3 at the second position B in FIG. 5. In addition, the electronic image contains the location of six dots 25g-l on golf ball 8. The triangulation from the data of cameras 18, 19 allows us to locate the position of six dots 25g-l on the surface of the ball. With information as to the six dots 25g-l on the surface and radius of ball 8, the center of ball 8, Xc, Yc, Zc are calculated by solving the six (6) equations:

    (X.sub.i.sup.B -X.sub.c).sup.2 +(Y.sub.i.sup.B -Y.sub.c).sup.2 +(Z.sub.i.sup.B -Z.sub.c).sup.2 =(RADIUS).sup.2

I1, . . . 6.

With the positional information of dots 20a-c on the club head unit 7 known, the location of the center of the clubface 7f (C_(x), C_(y), C_(z)) and its local coordinate system are found at the two strobed position A and B prior to impact with the ball 8 through the club calibration procedure previously described. The velocity components of the center of clubface unit 7 along the three axis of the coordinate system are then computed from the formulas: ##EQU3## in which Dt is the time interval between strobe firings.

The clubhead spin components result from the matrix of direction cosines relating the orientations of dots 20a-c on the clubhead unit 7 in one orientation to those in the second orientation. If we denote this matrix by A with elements Aij (i=1,3; j=1,3) then the magnitude, θ, of the angle of rotation vector of the two clubhead orientations during the time increment Dt is given by: ##EQU4## The three orthogonal components of spin rate Wx, Wy, Wz are given by: Wx=θL/(RDt)

Wy=θM/(Rdt)

Wz=θN/(Rdt)

From calculating the distance between the center of ball 8 and the center of the clubface 7f minus the radius of ball 8 and the velocity of the center of club face 7f, the time is calculated that it would take the last position of the clubface 7f to contact the surface of ball 8. Knowing this time, the position of the three clubhead unit 7 dots 20a-c can be calculated assuming the velocity of face 7f remains constant up until it reaches position C when impacting ball 8. With these club face 7f positions calculated at impact, the position of ball 8 relative to the center of the club face 7f can be calculated by finding the point of intersection of a line through the center of ball 8 and the normal to club face 7f plane found by using the three extrapolated club face points 31a-c.

The path angle and attack angle are found from the components of velocity measured at the center of the face (V_(x), V_(y), V_(z)). They are defined as follows:

    Path Angle=tan.sup.-1 (V.sub.x /V.sub.z)

    Attack Angle=tan.sup.-1 (V.sub.y /√/ V.sub.x.sup.2 +V.sub.z.sup.2 !)

With the automatic location of club velocity, path angle, attack angle and face hit location, the golfer receives quantitative information on his swing for teaching and club fitting purposes. In addition, the direction of the clubface plane can be calculated at impact.

Example

After calibration as described above a golfer swung a driver through field 35 striking balls 8 in two successive series of five (5) shots per series. The following data was obtained for the first series:

    ______________________________________     Type of         Average of  Standard     Measurement     Five Shots  Deviation     ______________________________________     Clubhead speed  1.7     mph     0.80     perpendicular to     intended line of     flight of ball     Clubhead speed in                     -0.2    mph     2.25     vertical direction     Clubhead speed in                     81.8    mph     5.02     intended line of     flight     Clubhead spin rate                     -18     rpm     77     around axis     perpendicular to     intended line of     flight     Clubhead spin rate                     343     rpm     39     around vertical axis     Clubhead spin rate                     41      rpm     18     around intended line     of flight as axis     Location of impact                     +0.35   inches  0.245     horizontal from     geometric center of     club face (minus     indicates toward toe     and plus toward heel)     Distance vertically                     -0.47   inches  0.360     from geometric center     of club face (minus     is below and plus     above)     Path Angle      -1.2°    .059     Attack Angle    -0.1°    1.52     Loft Angle      15.3°    2.35     Open Angle      10.2°    2.12     ______________________________________

Based on the above information the golfer is advised to swing the golf club lower and to close the golf club face sooner before impact.

In a second series of shots the following data was obtained:

    ______________________________________     Type of         Average of  Standard     Measurement     Five Shots  Deviation     ______________________________________     Clubhead speed  3.7     mph     2.74     perpendicular to     intended line of     flight of ball     Clubhead speed in                     1.5     mph     0.56     vertical direction     Clubhead speed in                     85.0    mph     1.43     intended line of     flight     Clubhead spin rate                     -32     rpm     134     around axis     perpendicular to     intended line of     flight     Clubhead spin rate                     359     rpm     52     around vertical axis     Clubhead spin rate                     45      rpm     66     around intended line     of flight as axis     Location of impact                     -.35    inches  0.527     horizontal from     geometric center of     club face (minus     indicates toward toe     and plus toward heel)     Distance vertically                     +0.22   inches  0.309     from geometric center     of club face (minus     is below and plus     above)     Path Angle      -2.5°    1.80     Attack Angle    1.0°     0.37     Loft Angle      14.0°    3.61     Open Angle      7.2°     3.17     ______________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A system for monitoring the initial movement of a striking instrument just prior to and at contact with an object comprising:(a) a support means for the object in a field of view; (b) a portable housing adjacent the object including at least two cameras in fixed relationship in said housing; (c) a first camera unit in said housing having a light sensitive panel, said first camera unit being focused on the field of view through which the instrument passes prior to striking the object; (d) a second camera unit in said housing having a light sensitive panel focused on the field of view; (e) means for shuttering or gating the camera units at least two times as the instrument and object pass through the field of view; (f) three or more contrasting areas on the striking instrument and three or more contrasting areas on the object said areas positioned so that light emitting therefrom reaches said light sensitive panels to form light patterns thereon and create analog image signals when the camera shutters are open; and (g) image digitizing means for receiving said analog signals and discriminating between instrument contrasting and object contrasting areas to determine the conditions of the path and orientation of the instrument through the field.
 2. The system of claim 1 in which the shuttering means is a flash means that emits light in two flashes onto the instrument and object.
 3. The system of claim 1 in which its striking instrument has three (3) contrasting areas and the object has six (6) contrasting areas.
 4. The system of claim 1 in which all means except the computer means and support means are located in the portable housing.
 5. The system of claim 1 in which the instrument is a golf club with a club head and a face, the object is a golf ball and in which the image digitizing means determines the club head path and face orientation.
 6. An apparatus for measuring in a field the characteristics of a movement of a sports striking instrument just prior to striking a sports object comprising:(a) illuminable areas on the instrument and the object which areas differ in light emission; (b) a first and a second spaced-apart electro-video unit in a portable housing, each unit having a shutter focused on the object in the field; (c) measuring means in the electro-video units which recognize the position of calibrated illuminal areas in the field; (d) at least three light illuminable first area means on the object; (e) at least three light illuminable second area means on the striking instrument; (f) a plurality of flash lights for lighting the field; (g) control means for opening and closing each shutter and energizing each light such that light illuminates the instrument and the object in the field when the instrument is at a first position, a second position and when the object is in its first position and when the object has thereafter been struck; (h) light receiving means in the electro-video unit for receiving light from the light illuminable first and second area means when the instrument is at the first position and at the second position in the field; and (i) computer means for comparing the positions of the positions of calibrated illuminal areas at the first position with the the calibrated illuminal areas at the second position in relationship with the positions of said at least three light illuminable first area means on the object.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising attachment means having illuminal areas thereon are attached to the instrument for measuring the position in the field of said areas. 